Device for anchoring an intravenous needle

Abstract

An adhesive patch for anchoring an intravenous needle to the skin of a patient at the transcutaneous insertion site is disclosed in which a patch of continuous flexible asymmetrically elastic sheet material having one side covered with a layer of biocompatible adhesive is provided substantially shaped as large and small abutting parallel rectangles integrally joined parallel to the easy axis of elasticity and adapted to engage an intravenous needle. The small rectangle is configured such that a portion can disengage from the larger rectangle and fold on itself as a tab and adhesively engage the periphery of the hub of the needle and wherein the larger rectangle has a central shaped cut out facing the small rectangle and is adapted to fold over the tab and adhesively attach to the skin thereby attaching the entire assembly to the skin. A layer of peelable release paper adhering to said adhesive is provided for packaging.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stabilizing foldover adhesive anchoring device for securing an intravenous needle to the skin of a patient at a point spaced from the transcutaneous insertion site by engaging the hub of the needle comprising: a continuous patch of flexible asymmetrically elastic sheet material having an easy axis and a hard axis with regard to the elasticity;   wherein the patch is substantially rectangularly shaped and divided to include large and small abutting parallel rectangular sections integrally joined for a distance parallel to the easy axis of elasticity and adapted to engage an intravenous needle disposed generally at right angles to the easy axis of the material;   the small section further being configured with a tab portion that is predisposed to readily disengage in part from the larger section and fold on itself to adhesively engage the periphery of the needle hub therebetween;   wherein the large section has a central substantially triangularly shaped cut-out facing the small section and is adapted to fold over itself and the flap portion containing the hub and adhesively attach to the flap portion and the skin, thereby attaching the entire assembly to the skin with the out-out exposing the transcutaneous insertion site; and   an amount of adhesive material applied to one surface only of the patch material such that the patch is required to be positioned with the adhesive side away from the skin prior to engaging the needle.   
     
     
       2. A method of securing an intravenous needle to the skin of a patient utilizing a flexible elastic sheet anchoring device having adhesive applied on one side only to secure the needle hub comprising the steps of: providing a patch of flexible elastic sheet material of a predetermined shape and size and having a quantity of adhesive material applied to one surface only thereof wherein the sheet of flexible elastic material is further functionally divided into a needle hub engaging portion and a skin attaching portion, the needle hub engaging portion further comprising a partially separated fold over flap capable of folding on itself and adhesively engaging the periphery of the hub of the needle therebetween, a portion of the flap remaining integral with the skin attaching portion of the patch;   placing the patch under the needle with the adhesive side up, the hub engaging portion beneath the hub and the skin engaging portion extending back along the needle axis toward the proximal end thereof;   causing the fold over flap to fold and peripherally engage the hub and itself; and   folding the skin attaching portion on itself over the previously folded needle engaging flap portion adhesively attaching it to both the needle engaging flap and to the skin, thereby attaching the entire assembly to the skin.